Last week I attended Bandai Namco’s 2015 Level Up event, which gave invited media the chance to try out preview versions of several up-coming games.
F1 2015 and Project CARS were the two that I focused on, with new information and details being announced about both titles.
I will start off with the next F1 game from Codemasters. F1 2015 will be officially launched on the 12 June, several months earlier than previous release dates. It will be available on new-generation consoles – Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC – for the first time, running on an all-new game engine. It hasn’t just taken F1 2014 and developed it further, this is a title built from the ground up.
With much more scope available, the pressure is on for Codemasters to really make steps forward and kick start the future direction of the franchise. There are plenty of new elements to be excited about in the new F1 2015 game and some were previously revealed in the initial announcement.
It will include a revolutionary new handing system, a broadcast TV presentation with new grid and podium scenes, voice commands through Xbox One's Kinect, PlayStation Camera or compatible headsets for PlayStation 4 to talk to the race engineer and 2014 bonus content – although Codemasters was quick to point out that last year’s cars have been built from the ground up too.
"Race like a champion" is the new slogan for F1 2015, focusing on some of the new game modes like Championship Season, where gamers are able to drive as one of the champions on this year’s grid for a full campaign. There is a new brand identity for the title, with new logos and artwork. The focus is on pure racing and that is helped with a new AI system that, according to the game developers, "experience the same things as the player" and make them even more competitive.
One of the big announcements was the fact that the cars in the initial game will be based on the ones that competed over the Australian Grand Prix race weekend – so no Manor, but because it is being released on new-generation, regular updates during the year will follow, so Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi will soon appear.
Other smaller details talked about at the Level Up event include all three practice sessions returning, new lighting and frame rates (60fps), more accessible handling, new pad and wheel systems to make them more equal, improved engine audio, individual unique steering wheels for teams new broadcast cameras.
I was fortunate enough to be able to try out a very early demo version of the game at Level Up, which took place at the Namco Funscape near the London Eye. It was very limited, with just Singapore to drive around at the wheel of 2014 cars. However, it gave me a decent look at the new graphics and I was able to try out the new handling system. The first thing that struck me was the driver selection menu, with CGI versions of each driver that look remarkably similar.
Visually, F1 2015 looks like a good step forward – the long distance shots in the replays were disappointing, but up-close and when driving, the graphics are much better. We were straight away tasked with a three-lap race around Singapore in the wet, and the puddles, standing water, rain drops on the screen and spray are much improved.
The lighting is much better and really does help to lift the game visuals up another level. Instead of being in the pit garage, players will now be on the grid choosing their set-ups and making final changes before the race, and this new broadcast presentation – despite most of it not appearing in the demo – does look promising and is something many F1 fans have been wanting for some time.
Now, let’s move onto the handling. The cars feel very different to previous games, but in a good way. They are more challenging to drive, particularly in the high-speed corners, and you can really feel the torque in the slow turns, which means you really have to be easy on the throttle. However, it is much easier to correct the car and judge what is happening. I found it easier to lock up and visually this looks more impressive, while the AI felt more competitive.
Previously I had been disappointed with the AI, how they would easily give up if I was alongside them into a corner. They wouldn’t put up a fight, but didn’t seem to experience the same tyre wear issues and struggles in certain weather conditions compared to the player. The demo showed encouraging signs in this area, with more aggressive AI. The model was still being tuned but they made more mistakes, wouldn’t give in so easily when being overtaken and were quicker through the first corner (which has always been an issue) and on the first lap.
You can also easily see the difference between the cars. Because we were playing as the 2014 grid, the Mercedes-powered cars had a clear advantage on the straights, while the Red Bull RB10 felt much better through the corners compared to other cars that I tried.
Hopefully this will be carried over to the 2015 cars and the updates throughout the second half of the year should mean the competitive order can be tweaked should it change at all. So, despite the very limited preview of the game, the steps forward look to be positive and I’m looking forward to trying out the game in the future.
I was also able to try out Project CARS. The game has been delayed numerous times, but we finally have a release date. Bandai Namco confirmed on Twitter that it will be launched on the 8 May 2015, for Xbox One, PS4 and PC (later on Wii U). I have previously tried the game and was very impressed with it, but at the Level Up event I was able to spend time racing on the new Xbox One build.
Whilst differences were subtle, you can tell that progress has been made. There were no glitches at all for me and the visuals were simply stunning. I fell in love with the game all over again and really started to feel at home with the handling – my driving was much better compared to my previous attempt at racing on the game. The AI felt more competitive but a little less aggressive, and the quality of the replays was incredible – very realistic.
The reason for the numerous delays is due to the fact that the developers want to get everything right before release. It is a hotly anticipated game and they want to make sure it is the best it can be before making it available to buy. It is understandable but also frustrating, with all of these stunning trailers being released – including the new one below.
I don’t have a new-generation console but after playing the new build of Project CARS and the early demo of F1 2015, I am very, very tempted.
 |
| © Bandai Namco |
I will start off with the next F1 game from Codemasters. F1 2015 will be officially launched on the 12 June, several months earlier than previous release dates. It will be available on new-generation consoles – Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC – for the first time, running on an all-new game engine. It hasn’t just taken F1 2014 and developed it further, this is a title built from the ground up.
 |
| © Bandai Namco |
With much more scope available, the pressure is on for Codemasters to really make steps forward and kick start the future direction of the franchise. There are plenty of new elements to be excited about in the new F1 2015 game and some were previously revealed in the initial announcement.
It will include a revolutionary new handing system, a broadcast TV presentation with new grid and podium scenes, voice commands through Xbox One's Kinect, PlayStation Camera or compatible headsets for PlayStation 4 to talk to the race engineer and 2014 bonus content – although Codemasters was quick to point out that last year’s cars have been built from the ground up too.
"Race like a champion" is the new slogan for F1 2015, focusing on some of the new game modes like Championship Season, where gamers are able to drive as one of the champions on this year’s grid for a full campaign. There is a new brand identity for the title, with new logos and artwork. The focus is on pure racing and that is helped with a new AI system that, according to the game developers, "experience the same things as the player" and make them even more competitive.
 |
| © Bandai Namco |
One of the big announcements was the fact that the cars in the initial game will be based on the ones that competed over the Australian Grand Prix race weekend – so no Manor, but because it is being released on new-generation, regular updates during the year will follow, so Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi will soon appear.
Other smaller details talked about at the Level Up event include all three practice sessions returning, new lighting and frame rates (60fps), more accessible handling, new pad and wheel systems to make them more equal, improved engine audio, individual unique steering wheels for teams new broadcast cameras.
I was fortunate enough to be able to try out a very early demo version of the game at Level Up, which took place at the Namco Funscape near the London Eye. It was very limited, with just Singapore to drive around at the wheel of 2014 cars. However, it gave me a decent look at the new graphics and I was able to try out the new handling system. The first thing that struck me was the driver selection menu, with CGI versions of each driver that look remarkably similar.
Visually, F1 2015 looks like a good step forward – the long distance shots in the replays were disappointing, but up-close and when driving, the graphics are much better. We were straight away tasked with a three-lap race around Singapore in the wet, and the puddles, standing water, rain drops on the screen and spray are much improved.
 |
| © Bandai Namco |
The lighting is much better and really does help to lift the game visuals up another level. Instead of being in the pit garage, players will now be on the grid choosing their set-ups and making final changes before the race, and this new broadcast presentation – despite most of it not appearing in the demo – does look promising and is something many F1 fans have been wanting for some time.
Now, let’s move onto the handling. The cars feel very different to previous games, but in a good way. They are more challenging to drive, particularly in the high-speed corners, and you can really feel the torque in the slow turns, which means you really have to be easy on the throttle. However, it is much easier to correct the car and judge what is happening. I found it easier to lock up and visually this looks more impressive, while the AI felt more competitive.
Previously I had been disappointed with the AI, how they would easily give up if I was alongside them into a corner. They wouldn’t put up a fight, but didn’t seem to experience the same tyre wear issues and struggles in certain weather conditions compared to the player. The demo showed encouraging signs in this area, with more aggressive AI. The model was still being tuned but they made more mistakes, wouldn’t give in so easily when being overtaken and were quicker through the first corner (which has always been an issue) and on the first lap.
 |
| © Bandai Namco |
You can also easily see the difference between the cars. Because we were playing as the 2014 grid, the Mercedes-powered cars had a clear advantage on the straights, while the Red Bull RB10 felt much better through the corners compared to other cars that I tried.
Hopefully this will be carried over to the 2015 cars and the updates throughout the second half of the year should mean the competitive order can be tweaked should it change at all. So, despite the very limited preview of the game, the steps forward look to be positive and I’m looking forward to trying out the game in the future.
I was also able to try out Project CARS. The game has been delayed numerous times, but we finally have a release date. Bandai Namco confirmed on Twitter that it will be launched on the 8 May 2015, for Xbox One, PS4 and PC (later on Wii U). I have previously tried the game and was very impressed with it, but at the Level Up event I was able to spend time racing on the new Xbox One build.
 |
| © Bandai Namco |
Whilst differences were subtle, you can tell that progress has been made. There were no glitches at all for me and the visuals were simply stunning. I fell in love with the game all over again and really started to feel at home with the handling – my driving was much better compared to my previous attempt at racing on the game. The AI felt more competitive but a little less aggressive, and the quality of the replays was incredible – very realistic.
The reason for the numerous delays is due to the fact that the developers want to get everything right before release. It is a hotly anticipated game and they want to make sure it is the best it can be before making it available to buy. It is understandable but also frustrating, with all of these stunning trailers being released – including the new one below.
I don’t have a new-generation console but after playing the new build of Project CARS and the early demo of F1 2015, I am very, very tempted.
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